Apparatus for processing tenuous material



Jan. 8, 1957 A. L. HOMERY ET AL APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING TENUOUSMATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1955 q i l INVENTORS maxL..HOMERY MORRIS n. SIMON Rffb may Jan. 8, 1957 A. HOMERY ET ALAPPARATUS FOR PROCESSING TENUOUS MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb.10, 1955 INVENTORS HLEX L. HQMERY MORRIS R. SIMQN Jan. 8, 1957 1 HOMERYET AL 2,776,710

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING TENUOUS MATERIAL Filed Feb. 10, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS HL'EX. L. HOMERY MORRIS H. SIMON Jan. 8, 1957HOMERY ET AL 2,776,710

APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING TENUOUS MATERIAL Filed Feb. 10, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 4 l N -I $3 xx 0 n N *5 INVENTORS FLEX Ll. HOMERY MORRISFl. SIMON United States Patent APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING TENUOUS MATERIALAlex L. Homery, Jamestown, Pa. ,and Morris A. Simon, Youngstown, Ohio,assignors to Youngstown Industries, Inc., Girard, Ohio, n corporation ofOhio Application February 1Q,;1955,:Seriol.No. 487,300

8 Claims. (Cl. 164-60) The present invention relates to apparatusforprocessing tenuous material, more particularly to apparatus forlongitudinally slitting tenuous material such as strip and the like, andthe principal object of the invention is to provide new and improvedapparatus of the character described. 7

When conventional slitting apparatus is employed to longitudinally slitstrip material into two or more strips of a predetermined width, itisnecessary to cut a small amount of material ofi each side of the stripin addition to the cut (or cuts) which divides the strip into therequisite sizes. This is necessary since practically all lengths ofstrip material have a certain amount of camber (or deviation ofat-marginal edge of the strip from a straight line). If the strip is nottrued by cutting a piece off each side, it is very difficult to maintainthe width of the pieces being slit. f

it will readily be apparent that when large quantities of strip materialare cut with conventional slitters, a considerable amount of scrap isproduced with resultant financial loss. The present invention eliminatessuch scrap losses by providing a novel slitter which will accurately cutthe strip longitudinally to any desirable width along a line (or aplurality of lines if more than one cut is made in the strip) generallyparallel with the strip edges.

While each of the pieces cut from strip by the present invention willhave the same camber (if camber exists) as the original unslit strip,this factor is of little consequence in many fields since, during laterprocessing, each piece of strip will often be cut into relatively vshortlengths. Other advantages of the present invention will become apparentfrom a study of the following description and from the drawings appendedhereto.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part ofthis application there are shown, for purpose of illustration,embodiments which our invention may assume, and in these drawings:

Figure 1 is a generally diagrammatic side elevational view of the'present invention in use in a conventional strip processing line,

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the invention, 1

Figure 3 is a reduced size, top plan view of the invention shown in acentral position in full lines and in positions on each side of thecentral position by dot dash lines,

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view generally corresponding to theline -4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is anenlarged broken end elevational view of the invention,

Figure 6 is .a view similar to Figure 2 but showing certain operatingparts in another position,

Figure 7 is an enlarged, longitudinal sectional view of a portion ofstrip which may be used with the present invention,

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of a modification of the invention, and

Ice

Figures 9 and 10 are exaggerated plan views of sections of stripmaterial which are adapted to be longitudinally slit. Y

The herein disclosed .slitter is of the conventional type in whichrotatably supported slitter knives, or discs, are disposed in juxtaposedrelation so as to severstrip passed therebetween. Moreover, the hereindisclosed slitter is the type in which the .slitter knives are notdriven but merely rotate in response to tangential forces as the stripis pulled therethrough.

Referring to Figure 1, the slitter 10 is shown in use with aconventional strip processing line which, in the present embodiment,includes an oven 11, pinch rolls 12 and a coiler 13 upon which the stripS is adapted to be wound. The pinch rolls l2 sprovide a pass for thestrip, the rolls 'being adapted to be rotated in the direction of thearrows by any suitable-drive means to pull the strip through the line.Although not shown, the line may include other apparatus such as apay-oh reel for feeding strip to the oven and suitable coating apparatusfor depositing paint or the like upon the strip prior to its entranceinto the oven.

It is to be understood that the pull of pinch rolls 12 will be resistedby any suitable means so that the strip will be under tension as itpasses through the slitter 10. This may be accomplished in various ways;for example, a brake may be provided upon the pay-off reel (not shown)or rolls 14 may be provided which are engageable with the strip in thesame manner as are pinch rolls 12. In the event rolls 14 are employed,they may be driven at a slower speed than are rolls 12 or they may beprovided with a suitable brake so as to place the moving strip undertension.

Referring particularly to Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, the slitter hereinshown comprises a pair of externally threaded, spaced apart arbors 15,16. Arbor 15 is rotatably supported by spaced-apart arms 17, 17 andarbor 16 is rotatably supported by spaced-apart arms 18, 18. In thepresent embodiment, the strip S is to be slit into two pieces;accordingly, each arbor 15, 16 carries but a single slitter "knife 19each of which is locked in position upon its respective arbor by meansof collars Z0 1 threaded upon the arbors and positioned on each side ofa respective slitter knife (see especially Figure 5).

It will be appreciated that in the event more than one cut is to he madein the strip, additional knives may be mounted upon the arbors..

'As best shown in Figure 5, arms 17, '17 are adapted to be joinedtogether by means of a bar 21 which is Welded or otherwise secured'inposition and arms 18, 18 are similarly joined together by means of a bar22. For a purpose later .to become clear, bar 21 extends beyondrespective arms 17, 17.

Adjoining arms 17, 18 are pivotally secured to a bracket 23 and eachbracket (see especially Figures 3 and 5) is secured by any suitablemeans to a plate 24. As best seen in Figure 4, a plate 25 underlies theplate 24 in side-by-side relation, the plates 24 vand 25 being pivotallysecured together by means of a bearing 26, a stub shaft 27 and capscrews28 which removably secure the stub shaft to plate 24. Stub shaft 27provides an axis about which the plate 24 and the slitter knives carriedthereby are shiftable for purpose to become clear, the knives beingspaced from this axis in a direction along the line of strip movementfor reasons later to appear.

Means are provided for supporting plate 25 for movement edgewise of thestrip and in a direction transversely of its line of movement and, atthe present time, a pair of transversely extending guides 29 are securedin parallel, spaced-apart relation to plate 25 by means of capscrews 30.The adjoining faces of guides 29 are provided with V grooves in whichcomplementarily shaped rollers 31, rotatably carried by a plate 32, areadapted to be respectively seated. Plate 32, as illustrated in Figure 1,is adapted to be fixedly secured to a base, or stand, 33 by any suitablemeans.

From the foregoing it will be understood that plates 24, and the slitterknives carried by arms 17, 18 are shiftable transversely of the line ofmovement of the strip along the rollers 31 (see Figure 3). Additionally,plate 24 and the slitter knives carried by arms 17, 18 are pivotableabout the axis of bearing 26 and stub shaft 27 (see Figure 3).

Means are provided for maintaining plate 24 and the parts carriedthereby in predetermined position relative to the strip. Such meanspresently comprises strip guide rollers 34 (see especially Figures 3 and4) positioned on opposite sides of the strip and having peripheriesadapted for engagement therewith. Each roller 34 is rotatably carried bya bracket which is secured to plate 24, it being understood the bracketsare adjustable along the plate 24 and in a direction edgewise of thestrip to provide for handling various strip widths. Adjustment of thebrackets 35 may be accomplished by providing slots in the brackets, theslots being elongated in the direction of adjustment and passingfastening bolts.

As previously described, plate 24 is free to move edgewise of the stripalong guides 29 and rollers 31; accordingly, since guide rollers 34 areengaged with the strip edges, plate 24 has a floating action whichpermits it to follow the strip despite the latters deviation from astraight line. Moreover, since plate 24 is free to pivot about the axisof stub shaft 27, the plate will turn about this axis to closely followthe curvature of the strip. This will maintain the axes of arbors 15, 16normal to the longitudinal axis of the strip to insure smooth cuttingaction.

It should be pointed out that an important feature of the presentinvention is the fact that all of the guide rollers 34, which cause theplate 24 and the slitter knives to follow the curvature of the strip,engage the uncut portion of the strip. It will be appreciated thatguiding action of the rollers 34 would be less effective if these guiderollers engaged the strip after it was cut. Accordingly, the slitterknives are spaced from the plate 24 in a direction along the line ofstrip movement.

The present slitter is adapted for use in a continuous strip line; thatis, one in which the trailing end of one 0011 of strip being fed to theline is secured to the leading end of the next successive coil in orderthat the line may operate continuously. As shown in Figure l, theleading and trailing ends of the strip are overlapped and then securedtogether by staples 36 or by lap welding or in any other suitablemanner. Since the overlapped portions of the strip might damage theslitter and since such portions are of no use and are normally cut fromthe strip prior to its further processing, means are provided to renderthe slitter inoperative at the point where the strips are joined.

With particular reference to Figures 2 and 5, a fluid cylinder 37 ispivotally secured to each arm 18 by means of a suitable pivot pin 38.The extending end of the piston rod 39 of each cylinder 37 is pivotallysecured between the legs of a respective bifurcated member 40 which iswelded or otherwise secured to the respective extending portions of bar21. In the presently disclosed embodiment, fluid conduits 41, 42 extendfrom cylinders 37 to a control valve 43 (see Figure l) which is in turnconnected to a source of fluid under pressure by means of a conduit 44.

At the present time, valve 43 is manually actuated by the operatorimmediately prior to the time the spliced portion of the strip entersthe slitter. In the normal or strip slitting position of the slitter,the slitter knives 19 are held together, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5,by

means of the cylinder 37. The operator, upon perceiving that the splicedportion of the strip is about to enter the slitter, will shift theactuator of valve 43. This will cause the cylinders 37 to shift theslitter knives apart (see Figure 6) to permit the spliced portion of thestrip to pass through. After the spliced portion has cleared theslitter, the operator will return the valve to its normal position andthe cylinders will thereupon move the knives together once again toresume the slitting operation.

While the embodiment thus far disclosed providm for manual operation ofthe cylinders 37, it will readily be apparent that they could beoperated automatically in response to the position of the splicedportion of the strip relative to the slitter.

By way of illustration and as diagrammatically shown in Figure 8, alimit switch may be positioned in advance of a slitter 10a (similar inall respects to slitter 10) and have its actuator engaged with thestrip. When the overlapped portion of the strip engages the actuator,normally open contacts of the switch will be moved to closed position.This will cause current to flow in circuit 50 and start the operation ofa time delay device. After a predetermined length of time (the timebeing determined by the speed of the moving strip and by the distancethe limit switch is spaced from the slitter knives) the time delaydevice will cause current to flow to a solenoid valve which will effectfluid flow to the cylinders 37a in manner to separate the slitter knivesimmediately prior to the time the overlapped portion of the stripreaches the knives. After another predetermined length of time, the timedelay device will again actuate the solenoid valve to cause thecylinders 37a to move the knives together immediately after theoverlapped portion of the strip has passed beyond the knives.

Referring now to Figure 9 wherein a section of strip material having anexaggerated amount of camber is shown, it will be seen that withconventional slitters it is necessary to cut along both edges of thestrip in addition to cutting along the center thereof in order toprovide two strips of equal predetermined width. However, with thepresent invention and as shown in Figure It), a single cut which followsthe camber of the strip is made down the center thereof thus dividing itinto two strips of equal width.

It is to be clearly understood that while in the interest of simplicitythe presently disclosed embodiment illustrates cutting a strip down thecenter into two equal pieces, such cut may, if desired, be made at anyother point between the edges of the strip. Moreover, the strip may becut into three or more pieces, if desired.

In operation, the slitter herein disclosed will be positioned in mannerwherein the axis of the stub shaft 27 coincides with the center of thestrip and rollers 34 adjusted to engage respective edges of the strip.Accordingly, even though the strip is cambered, the carriage provided byplate 24 will closely follow the curvature of the strip because theplate is free to shift edgewise of the strip and also free to pivotabout the axis of stub shaft 27. Since the present embodiment is adaptedto cut the strip into two equal width pieces, the slitter knives will bemaintained in the center of the strip and the axes of the arbors 15, 16will be maintained normal to the longitudinal axis of the strip toinsure smooth cutting action.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat we have accomplished at least the principal object of our inventionand it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that theembodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified,without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that theinvention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specificallydescribed, hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosedembodiments are illustrative only, and that our invention is not limitedthereto.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for slitting longitudinally moving strip material,comprising cutting means engaged with the strip for dividing itlongitudinally as it moves therepast, means holding said cutting meansagainst the longitudinal pull exerted thereon by the moving strip andcomprising means providing an axis mounted for movement in a directionedgewise of the strip and about which said cutting means is swingableedgewise of the strip in response to the pull of the latter, said axisbeing spaced from said cutting means in a direction opposite to thedirection of movement of the strip, and means for maintaining said axisin predetermined relation with an edge of the strip despite deviation ofthe latter from a straight line.

2. Apparatus for slitting longitudinally moving strip material,comprising a rotatably mounted cutting wheel engaged with the strip androtated by the longitudinal force exerted thereon by the strip movingtherepast, means holding said cutting wheel against the longitudinalpull exerted thereon by the moving strip and comprising means providingan axis mounted for movement in a direction edgewise of the strip andabout which said cutting wheel is swingable edgewise of said strip inresponse to the pull of the latter, said axis being spaced from saidcutting wheel in a direction opposite to the direction of movement ofthe strip, and means for maintaining said axis in predetermined relationwith an edge of the strip despite deviation of the latter from astraight line.

3. Apparatus for slitting longitudinally moving strip material,comprising a carriage mounted for movement in a direction edgewise ofthe strip, means providing a pivot carried by and movable with saidcarriage, means for maintaining said carriage and said pivot carriedthereby in predetermined relation with an edge of the strip despitedeviation of such edge from a straight line, and cutting meansengageable with the strip and having a predetermined spaced relationwith said edge of the strip and being spaced from said pivot in thedirection of strip movement, said cutting means being swingable aboutsaid pivot in a direction edgewise of the strip and trailing therebehindin response to the longitudinal pull exerted on said cutting means bythe moving strip.

4. Apparatus for slitting longitudinally moving strip material,comprising a carriage mounted for movement in a direction edgewise ofthe strip, means providing a pivot carried by and movable with saidcarriage, means for maintaining said carriage and said pivot carriedthereby in predetermined relation with an edge of the strip despitedeviation of such edge from a straight line, and a rotatably mountedcutting wheel having an annular cutting edge engaged with the strip,said cutting wheel being rotated by the tangential force exerted thereonby the strip moving therepast and said cutting wheel being spaced fromsaid pivot in the direction of strip movement and being swingable aboutsaid pivot in a direction edgewise of the strip in response to thelongitudinal pull exerted on said cutting wheel by the moving strip, theplane of rotation of said cutting edge being so related to said pivotthat the longitudinal pull of the moving strip causes said cutting wheelto trail behind said pivot with said cutting edge plane in alignmentwith the longitudinal axis of the strip.

5. Apparatus for slitting longitudinally moving strip material,comprising a carriage mounted for rectilinear movement in a directionedgewise of the strip, means for maintaining said carriage inpredetermined relation with an edge of the strip despite deviation ofsuch edge from a straight line, a pair of arms pivotally secured to saidcarriage and each rotatably supporting a cutting wheel one of which hasan annular cutting edge, said arms being relatively movable toward andaway from each other to efiiect movement of said cutting wheels towardand away from engagement with said strip and said cutting wheels beingdisposed in juxtaposition on opposite sides of the strip and beingrotated by the tangential force exerted thereon by the strip movingtherepast, and means holding said cutting wheels against thelongitudinal pull exerred thereon by the moving strip and comprisingmeans providing a pivot mounted for movement with said carriage in adirection edgewise of said strip and about which said cutting wheels areswingable edgewise of the strip in response to the pull of the latter,said pivot being spaced from said cutting wheels in a direction oppositeto the direction of movement of the strip and the plane of rotation ofsaid cutting edge being so related to said pivot that the longitudinalpull of the moving strip causes said cutting wheels to trail behind saidpivot with said cutting edge plane in alignment with the longitudinalaxis of the strip.

6. Apparatus for slitting longitudinally moving strip material,comprising a carriage mounted for movement in a direction edgewise ofthe strip, means providing a pivot carried by and movable with saidcarriage, means for maintaining said carriage and said pivot carriedthereby in predetermined relation with an edge of the strip despitedeviation of such edge from a straight line, a pair of rotatably mountedcutting wheels relatively movable toward each other for cuttingengagement with opposite sides of the strip and relatively movable awayfrom each other out of cutting engagement with the strip, said cuttingwheels being rotated by the tangential force exerted thereon by thestrip moving therepast and said cutting Wheels being spaced from saidpivot in the direction of strip movement and being swingable about saidpivot in a direction edgewise of the strip in response to thelongitudinal pull exerted on said cutting wheels by the moving strip,and fluid cylinder means for efiecting relative move ment of saidcutting wheels toward and away from each other.

7. Apparatus for slitting longitudinally moving lengths of stripmaterial which are joined together in end-to-end relation, comprising apair of rotatably mounted cutting Wheels relatively movable toward eachother for cutting engagement with opposite sides of the strip andrelatively movable away from each other out of cutting engagement withthe strip, and means for effecting said relative movement of saidcutting wheels and responsive to the joint between said lengths of stripto move said cutting wheels out of cutting engagement with the stripupon arrival of said joint thereat and to move said cutting wheels intocutting engagement with the strip after passage of such jointtherebeyond.

8. Apparatus for slitting longitudinally moving lengths of stripmaterial which are joined together in end-to-end, overlapping relation,comprising a pair of rotatably mounted cutting wheels relatively movabletoward each other for cutting engagement with opposite sides of thestrip and relatively movable away from each other out of cuttingengagement with the strip, and fluid cylinder means for effecting saidrelative movement of said cutting wheels and responsive to theoverlapped portions of strip to move said cutting wheels out of cuttingengagement with the strip upon arrival of such overlapped portionthereat and to move said cutting wheels into cutting engagement with thestrip after passage of such overlapped portion therebeyond.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

